The Ohio Beta Chapter
of
The Tau Beta Pi Association

Bylaw I - General

Section 1.01

These Bylaws shall govern the proceedings of this Chapter in all matters not expressly provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc.

Section 1.02

This Chapter shall conform to such rules and regulations of the University of Cincinnati, as stated in Policies and Rules Governing Student Organizations, and of the College of Engineering as may apply to honor societies.

Section 1.03

In event of a conflict between the Constitution and Bylaws of the Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc., and the rules and regulations of the University of Cincinnati and/or the College of Engineering, the rules of the University and/or the College of Engineering shall prevail, and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association shall be notified of the circumstances of the conflict.

Section 1.04

Abbreviated references herein to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association and to the various Bylaws of this document shall be made in the form illustrated by the following examples:

• C-VI, 1 – National Constitution Article VI, Section 1.
• B-V, 5.02 – National Bylaw V, Section 5.02.
• b-II, 2.03 – Ohio Beta Chapter Bylaw II, Section 2.03

Section 1.05

A Pre-Junior is defined as a student who is in his/her third year of engineering study and has the correct number of completed credit hours for their major as specified by their department. A student is on a work-section if that student is registered with the Professional Practice Division at the University of Cincinnati as being on "Coop." Otherwise, a student is on study-section as long as they are currently enrolled at the university.

Bylaw II – Government and Officers

Section 2.01

The Chapter shall be composed of members chosen from among eligible students and alumni on the basis of distinguished scholarship or professional attainment and exemplary character, as enunciated in C-VIII and The Eligibility Code of the Association.

Section 2.02

The Chapter shall have full control of its individual affairs, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association, which control shall be exercised by the active membership of the Chapter and its Advisory Board. An “active member” of this Chapter shall be as defined in C-VI , 1, and on study section. Only active undergraduate and graduate-student members, as defined above, shall have the privilege of voting on new members and on the amounts of the initiation fee, dues, fines, and assessments.

Section 2.03

The officers of this Chapter shall be a President, Vice President of Membership, Vice President of Activities, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Tutoring Chair, who shall be active members of the Chapter; and four alumnus advisors, preferably elected from among the faculty of the College of Engineering.

Section 2.04

The Advisory Board of the Chapter shall be composed of the President, Vice-President of Membership, Corresponding Secretary, and the four alumnus members of the Association. The Chair of the Advisory Board shall be the alumnus member who is closest to completing his or her four-year term.

Section 2.05

Alumnus members of the Advisory Board shall serve four-year terms, as specified in C-VI, 7, or until their successors are elected and installed. All other officers shall serve for one year or until their successors are duly elected and installed.

Section 2.06

The duties of the officers shall be those usually performed by persons holding such offices, those prescribed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association and those prescribed in these Bylaws or by Chapter action.

Section 2.07

The President shall be this Chapter’s delegate to the Convention of the Association. The other officers shall be alternate delegates, in the order given in b-II, 2.03.

Section 2.08

The following extra duties shall be required of the officers.

1. The President shall be ex officio member of all committees.
2. The President shall see that each officer and committee Chair is provided with a written list of specific duties for which each is responsible. A copy of each list shall be placed in the President’s Book.
3. The President shall appoint a member to distribute to each candidate accepting election copies of The Constitution and Bylaws and Eligibility Code of The Tau Beta Pi Association, Information About Tau Beta Pi, these Bylaws, and such other material as the Chapter may deem necessary.
4. The President shall appoint a member to announce the time, place, and purpose of each meeting at least one week in advance of the meeting.
5. The Recording Secretary shall prepare a summary of the year’s business for the use of succeeding officers.
6. The Corresponding Secretary shall serve as Secretary of the Advisory Board.
7. The President, Vice-President of Membership, and Vice-President of Activities shall pay a courtesy call on the Dean of the College of Engineering early in fall quarter to discuss ways in which the Chapter may be of service to the College. The substance of such discussions shall be reported to the Chapter at the next meeting.

Bylaw III – Meetings

Section 3.01

The following regular meetings shall be scheduled and held once in the fall and winter quarters: Organization, Election of Candidates, Initiation of Electees, and one general meeting of a social, literary, or technical nature.

Section 3.02

The following regular meetings shall be scheduled and held in the spring quarter: Nomination of Officers, Election of Officers, Installation of Officers, and one general meeting of a social, literary, or technical nature.

Section 3.03

Special meetings may be called at any time by the President, any alumnus member of the Advisory Board, or by a petition to the President signed by 20% of the active study-section members of the Chapter.

Section 3.04

The first meeting of each quarter shall be held within two weeks of the start of the quarter.

Section 3.05

The officers shall present a complete calendar of the regular meetings of the Chapter for the quarter to the active members for their approval at the first meeting of the quarter.

Section 3.06

Notices posted announcing meetings shall clearly state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

Section 3.07

Business meetings shall last no longer than one (1) hour, unless extended by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the active members present. The order of business at these meetings shall be as follows:

1. Roll call
2. Minutes of the previous meeting
3. Reports of officers
4. Reports of committees
5. Unfinished business
6. New business
7. Adjournment

Section 3.08

The President shall call a meeting of the Advisory Board at the beginning of each quarter to discuss Chapter activities for the quarter. The minutes of each Advisory Board meeting shall be reported at the following regular meeting of the Chapter. Additional meetings of the Board may be called by any of its members or upon written request to the Chair of the Board signed by 20% of the active members of the Chapter.

Section 3.09

A quorum for the consideration of routine business shall be a majority of the active membership of the Chapter who are on study section; for the election of new members, for changing the initiation fee or Chapter dues, for passing an assessment on the members of the Chapter, for amending the Chapter Bylaws, and for approval or disapproval of a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Association, a quorum shall be three-fourths of the active membership on study section; for the election of officers, a quorum shall be two-thirds of an active membership who are juniors and pre-juniors. A quorum for an Advisory Board meeting shall be five voting members of the Board.

Bylaw IV – Committees

Section 4.01

Subject to the provisions of B-V, 5.02, the President shall appoint the Chairs and members of the following committees: Membership, Initiation, Program, Social Activities, Tutoring, and such other committees as the Chapter shall desire and establish. The Vice-President of Membership shall chair the Membership and Initiation committees. The Vice-President of Activities shall chair the Program and Social Activities committee. The Tutoring Chair will chair the Tutoring Committee. Appointments shall be made at the first Chapter meeting of each quarter.

Section 4.02

As early as possible after committee appointments have been made, the President shall provide each committee Chair with a list of his specific duties and responsibilities.

Bylaw V – Election of New Members

Section 5.01

Elections of new members shall be held in the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters as soon as possible after grades for the previous term become available.

Section 5.02

All provisions of C-VIII and B-VI shall be strictly followed.

Section 5.03.

Scholastically eligible students in the following undergraduate curricula shall be considered for membership in this Chapter: Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, scholastically eligible students in the following graduate curricula shall be considered for membership in this Chapter: Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering.

Section 5.04

Transfer students shall be eligible for consideration at the third regular election after their registration. Such students may be eligible at the second regular election after their registration, provided the consent of five-sevenths of the Advisory Board is obtained.

Section 5.05

The cases of students whose scholastic eligibility is in doubt because of irregularities in standing or curriculum shall be determined by the Advisory Board of the Chapter.

Section 5.06

The Chapter may elect to specify scholastic requirements higher, but not lower, than those stated in C-VIII.

Section 5.07

The Membership Committee shall periodically consult with the Chairs of the various engineering departments to determine the names of graduate students, alumni, faculty members, and others who may be eligible for membership under the provisions of C-VIII, 3-6.

Section 5.08

Exemplary Character Evaluation:

1. A list of scholastically eligible candidates shall be circulated to selected faculty members. The faculty shall be asked to make recommendations on candidates they know.
2. Letters shall be sent to scholastically eligible candidates inviting them to a get-acquainted meeting.
3. A get-acquainted meeting shall be held at which the Chapter members will meet the candidates. The candidates shall be introduced to the purposes and activities of Tau Beta Pi.

Section 5.09

Scholastic eligibility for Autumn, Winter, and Spring elections will be determined at the start of each Quarter for the upper fifth of the senior class and the upper eighth of the junior class. Each quarter, the upper fifth of the senior class and the upper eighth of the pre-junior and junior class taken collectively are eligible for election subject to Chapter requirements. Only those students on study section shall be elected although the percentage eligible is comprised of those students from both study and work sections.

Section 5.10

Voting Procedures:

1. At the Election Meeting, the Eligibility Code shall first be read.
2. The names of eligible candidates will be submitted to the Chapter membership in groups by the membership committee along with the committee’s favorable recommendation for each candidate in the group. The size of the groups shall be determined by the membership committee.
3. If any active member has a question about any of the candidates in any group, that candidate’s name shall be removed from the group (“purged”) and considered separately.
4. A Chapter vote shall be taken on the remainder of the group.
5. Each candidate removed from a group and candidates who did not receive a favorable recommendation from the membership committee shall be considered separately after all group have been voted on. Each name shall be presented for discussion and voted on before the following name is considered.
6. After all names have been considered and voted on, there shall be a second individual ballot for each candidate who failed election on the first ballot.
7. No candidate who fails election on the second ballot shall be considered further unless 25% of the members present so request.
8. No candidate who fails election on the third ballot shall be considered again at this election. He or she may be considered again at the next election if he or she is then eligible.

Section 5.11

The President shall direct the Membership Committee to have sufficient letters of notification of election prepared in advance of the Election Meeting. These letters shall be signed by the President, addressed to the electees, and taken to the departmental office for distribution the same day as the Election Meeting.

Section 5.12

All members shall keep the election results in absolute confidence so that no candidate shall learn of his election except by means of the official letter; likewise, no candidate shall be informed of the details of the vote, especially concerning the personal matters discussed at the time of voting.

Section 5.13

At the first meeting of electees, the chairman of the Initiation Committee shall explain the requirements, objectives, and activities of the Association and of the Chapter. Those electees desiring to accept election shall formally state their acceptance, in writing, in a letter addressed to the Chair of the Initiation Committee.

Section 5.14

Each electee who refuses initiation for financial reasons shall be interviewed by the Advisory Board, as required by C-VIII, 10(a).

Section 5.15

Each electee shall be required to take part in an activity recommended or approved by the Chapter officers to foster a spirit of liberal culture. This activity may take the form of a project and/or the writing of an essay, as specified in B-VII, 7.01. At the Chapter’s option, a monetary prize may be awarded to the electee who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the completion of the above-mentioned activity. They shall also be required to read the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association and these Bylaws.

Section 5.16

The Chapter may assign additional duties to electees, subject to the provisions of B-VII, 7.02.

Section 5.17

Membership shall be open to all students without respect to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era, or age who fulfill the requirements specified in C-VIII and these bylaws.

Bylaw VI – Election and Installation of Officers

Section 6.01

The President, Vice-President of Membership, Vice-President of Activities, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and an alumnus member of the Advisory Board shall be elected in the spring quarter.

Section 6.02

Nominations for officers shall be made in each of the following categories:

1. President
2. Vice-President of Membership
3. Vice-President of Activities
4. Recording Secretary
5. Corresponding Secretary
6. Treasurer
7. Historian

The nominees shall be seniors or juniors for the upcoming academic year. Nominations shall be taken from the floor at the last meeting of the winter quarter and the first meeting of spring quarter. Each candidate may submit a brief statement of detailing reasons why he/she should be elected to the position sought.

Section 6.03

The Election of officers shall be by secret ballot/email. Voting instructions and candidate’s statements shall be emailed to each member on work section eligible to vote. Those members on study section eligible to vote shall vote at the Election of Officers Meeting.

Section 6.04

The returned ballots/emails shall be counted no sooner than 10 days following the mailing of the last ballot/email. If the number of returned ballots equals or exceeds 2/3 of the available active junior and pre-junior membership of the Chapter, the President shall declare the ballots official, and the results shall be tabulated in accordance with b-VI, 6.05. Any ballots received after the ballots have been declared official will not be counted. If the number of returned ballots is less than 2/3 of the available active junior and pre-junior membership, the ballots cannot be declared official, and tabulation of the results must be postponed until the number of returned ballots equals 2/3 of the available active junior and pre-junior membership.

Section 6.05

In tabulating the results from the ballots, for categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 described in b-VI, 6.02, the nominee receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. In case of a tie in any category, the tie shall be decided by a vote of a quorum of the members of the Chapter who are on study session.

Section 6.06

If any office becomes vacant between regular elections, the President shall appoint temporary officers to fill the vacancy. The appointed officer shall serve until the next regular election. If the office of the President becomes vacant, the Vice-President of Activities will take over the position until the next regular election.

Section 6.07

The Chapter Officer Installation Procedure given in the President’s Book shall be employed to install the new officers.

Section 6.08

Any officer must be a matriculating student, must achieve and maintain a 2.000 quarterly grade point average, and be in good standing with their college.

Bylaw VII – Finances

Section 7.01

The expenses of the Chapter shall be borne by the initiation fee and by such dues and pro rata assessments as may be voted by the Chapter. A majority vote of the active membership on study session shall be required to change any fees or dues or to levy any assessment. (See b-II, 2.02 and b-III, 3.09). Within one week the Corresponding Secretary shall inform the Recording Secretary and Treasurer of the Association concerning changes in amounts of the initiation fee, dues, or assessments.

Section 7.02

The initiation fee shall not exceed $100.00. The specific amount to be charged shall be set during the first Chapter meeting in the fall quarter of each year. (See b-VII, 7.03). The initiation fee shall include the national initiation fee, the national Convention assessment, and the cost of at least one initiation banquet, the exact number to be determined by the Chapter. It shall be paid in advance of initiation. There shall be a differential of one initiation banquet’s cost between the fee required of the senior class electees and that of the junior and pre-junior classes' electees.

Section 7.03

Shortly after the election of officers, a committee composed of the President, President-elect, Treasurer, and Treasurer-elect shall prepare an operating budget for the next year. This budget shall be submitted to the Chapter for approval by a majority vote at the first regular meeting in the fall quarter. The budget shall include a recommended amount for the initiation fee to be charged during the year. Any additional expenses not provided for by the adopted budget must be approved by the Chapter, except that the Treasurer shall be authorized to advance to the Convention delegate a sum sufficient to cover expenses he expects to incur in attending the annual Convention of the Association.

Section 7.04

There shall be at all times a balance of at least $50.00 in the Chapter Treasury.

Section 7.05

All expenditures shall be made by check, signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President.

Section 7.06

The Chapter’s fiscal year shall be August 1 to July 31.

Section 7.07

Immediately following the end of the Chapter’s fiscal year, the Chapter Advisor shall audit the books. Following the audit, the Treasurer, with the aid of the Treasurer-elect, shall file the required information return with the Tau Beta Pi Association.

Section 7.08

The Chapter Advisor shall be informed of all financial dealings and likewise be at all times cognizant of the financial status of the treasury.

Section 7.09

A Financial Report shall be submitted yearly before the end of spring quarter to the Student Activities Board by the chapter treasurer.

Bylaw VIII – Discipline

Section 8.01

It is the intent of this disciplinary Bylaw to impress the membership with the seriousness of purpose of this Chapter and of the Tau Beta Pi Association, and to enable the officers and dedicated members of this Chapter to accomplish its necessary business in a manner not inconvenienced or encumbered by a possible lack to interest upon the part of a few members.

Section 8.02

Discipline shall be in accordance with C-IX, 4 & 5.

Section 8.03

A uniform system of fines for habitual absence or tardiness may be established each year in which it is desired by the Chapter. A majority vote of the active membership on study session shall be required to establish this system of fines for a period of one year. (See b-II, 2.02 and b-III, 3.09).

Bylaw IX – Records and Equipment

Section 9.01

All permanent records of the Chapter shall be kept accurate and up-to-date.

Section 9.02

The initiation equipment shall be maintained in good order and in a secure manner by the President, and the Ritual and its related materials shall be kept up-to-date and under lock and key, when not in use.

Section 9.03

All records and an inventory of all physical equipment owned by the Chapter shall be turned over to the new officers at the Installation of Officers Meeting.

Section 9.04

All records of this Chapter shall be open for inspection to any member of the Association, and to any official of the University who has received approval from the Advisory Board, except that the Ritual may not be inspected by non-members of the Association.

Section 9.05

A list of members and officers shall be submitted yearly to the Student Activities Board by the chapter Recording Secretary.

Bylaw X – Suspension of the Bylaws

Section 10.01

These Bylaws may be suspended only by a three-fourths affirmative vote of the active membership of the Chapter and by a four-sevenths affirmative vote of the Advisory Board, provided in C-VI, 5.

Bylaw XI – Amendments

Section 11.01

These Bylaws may be amended by a three-fourths affirmative vote of the active membership of the Chapter who are on study section, subject to the approval of the Advisory Board, as provided in C-VI, 7(b). (See b-III, 3.09).

Section 11.02

The Corresponding Secretary shall send a copy of the Bylaws, as amended, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association within two weeks after an amendment is adopted, as required by B-V, Sec. 5.03(d)6.

Bylaw XII – Enactment

Section 12.01

These Bylaws were adopted by a vote of this Chapter and its Advisory Board and became effective on November 20, 1980. They were last amended on March 5, 2004.